Horns Up!

[Matt Cotcher]

Some thoughtful commentary by Chris Flanagan on the NCAA's O'Bannon ruling - HORNS UP!

 

[java]

This is a thoughtful well-written article.  I have agreed with a stipend, full medical care, room and board (including a training table), and full cost of attendance for FBS Football, Division I Basketball, and Baseball for many years.  If other students want a training table, make it available at cost, but they don't have to eat in the same facility.

In addition, make a training table available for all athletes as part of their scholarship.  It is part of their training.

I have read articles for years lamenting the injuries, lack of weight gain, or weight gain of players.  Yet, the NCAA saw fit to not allow for funds to adequately feed athletes that put in hours of work training for their school's team.  Many of these athletes either do not have parents who can send additional money for them to eat when dining halls are closed, or cannot get enough food when the halls are open.    

My brother played on an outstanding college team (not Texas).  They did not have a separate dining hall for athletes.  By the time practice was over, other students had eaten, and there was not enough food left for the team.  My parents bought a refrigerator for his room, and my mother cooked food each week and Mom and Dad took it to him so that he could eat in the dining hall and then finish eating in his room.  Before they started doing that, he had lost 20 pounds that he couldn't afford to lose.

I also think of Earl who arrived at Texas with a couple of pairs of cutoffs, a couple of t-shirts, and a pair of jeans, and other players who have arrived without winter coats.  Teammates have generously helped them out.  Chris Simms, who was so unfairly vilified by so many fans here, took guys to eat and was unfailingly generous to many of the players on the team.  Without some of their more fortunate teammates, some kids would have been hungry and cold.

There are costs associated with living away from home that are necessities such as:  medical, dental, toiletries, eating when the dining hall is closed (for an athlete a necessity), and incidentals.  If an athlete has a car, there is car insurance and gasoline.

I know many of you object, but many parents don't have the money to contribute, a $5,000 stipend is not unreasonable.  Do not use names, images, and likenesses.  Do not sell jerseys with players' numbers.

The point was made in final arguments that no precedent had been set in any professional sport for an athlete to profit from broadcast rights.  The judge listened carefully and appeared to agree

with that argument.  Broadcast rights and contracts are not negotiated with any athlete in mind, but with conferences and schools.  Athletes have no right to that money.  

This is too long.  I apologize if I bored you.  Thank you, and Hook 'em!

 

[BudreauReye]

Java, you make a very good case.  Sometimes you cannot make a good argument with sound bites. You should not feel the need to apologize for the length of your post.  I agree with everything you are saying.  When I was in high school, it took more than 6,000 calories of food per day to keep me from losing weight during football season.  If a college athlete says they get hungry, in spite of being given three meals a day, I believe them.  Being forced to miss meals because of conflicting hours of workouts and meal service can be painful.

 

[java]

Java, you make a very good case.  Sometimes you cannot make a good argument with sound bites. You should not feel the need to apologize for the length of your post.  I agree with everything you are saying.  When I was in high school, it took more than 6,000 calories of food per day to keep me from losing weight during football season.  If a college athlete says they get hungry, in spite of being given three meals a day, I believe them.  Being forced to miss meals because of conflicting hours of workouts and meal service can be painful.

Thank you, bud.

Beginning Thursday, I will be unable to post very often; therefore, I did want to write something comprehensive, though I know that some do not agree.  

As a high school girl who worked out four hours per day, and worked out hard, I could eat literally anything and everything, including 1/2 an apple pie with ice cream, plus meals, and I never gained one ounce.  I had two days off during the year, Christmas and Easter, plus a two weeks after Nationals in the summer.  I wore a size 3 petite.

College athletes, dedicated ones, do much the same thing.  Off-season, is dedicated to strength and conditioning.  During the season, athletes practice skills and game plan, in addition they maintain conditioning in a properly run program.  They also have the regimen of the typical student.  That is a demanding schedule that requires proper nutrition and sleep.

To all of the factors listed, these athletes are still growing and will continue to grow and develop for most of their time in a program.  It is inconceivable that the NCAA ever limited the amount of food and/or nutrition a program could provide for them.  That is the most asinine, bureaucratic, idiotic, backwards, and counter-productive move that prehistoric organization has made, and they have taken other absurd stances, both before and after.  

I really think they use those idiots at the NCAA as brain transplant donors, prior to taking their positions.  Useless.

Hook 'em! 

 

[bcherry168]

Java, thanks. When I was growing up, the athletes ate at Hill Hall which was later torn down and replaced with Moore-Hill Hall. I can remember frequently eating the meals, supervised by Mrs. Griffith ( Ms Grif, as she was known). I can assure you that back then, the guys ate very, very well. They could also get jobs, and were given 4 season tickets which they could sell, though not for much.

I would guess that the small schools in the NCAA initiated the "reforms" that put scholarship players at the larger schools literally in the poorhouse. Having put my daughter through Texas A&M, I can tell you that tuition, fees and books are only part of the costs. I am very glad to see the NCAA moving toward letting the larger schools make their own rules. It is about time that these kids get what they need to enjoy the college experience.

 

[Chris Flanagan]

Java, thanks. When I was growing up, the athletes ate at Hill Hall which was later torn down and replaced with Moore-Hill Hall. I can remember frequently eating the meals, supervised by Mrs. Griffith ( Ms Grif, as she was known). I can assure you that back then, the guys ate very, very well. They could also get jobs, and were given 4 season tickets which they could sell, though not for much.

I would guess that the small schools in the NCAA initiated the "reforms" that put scholarship players at the larger schools literally in the poorhouse. Having put my daughter through Texas A&M, I can tell you that tuition, fees and books are only part of the costs. I am very glad to see the NCAA moving toward letting the larger schools make their own rules. It is about time that these kids get what they need to enjoy the college experience.

Great post!

I have a 5 year old starting kindergarten this fall. It scares me that in 12 years, he will be in college when it feels like yesterday I was graduating from high school. That was 10 years ago. 

I have not been shy to admit that I am starting law school in the fall. I hope it's going to be a good paying job but starting pay has dropped dramatically in the past 5 years. Even with scholarships, I have to take out student loans just to survive during the year. So obviously with rising tuition just for me to attend, I don't know if I can pay for my son's college. I think sometimes that I have to push him towards football instead of baseball so maybe he can get a full ride scholarship offer so I am off the hook as long as he stays healthy. 

This issue extends beyond sports, it's a societal issue at it's core. 

 

[java]

I am, as well.  My brother went to a smaller school, but one that was always in contention.  A&M was interested in him, but he wasn't quite big enough for Division 1A.  When my parents saw him after 2 weeks away from home, and they saw the weight he had lost because enough food wasn't available, they were horrified.  They did something that same weekend.

Some student athletes don't get that support.

 

[java]

Chris, I think ultimately baseball at Division I schools will get a full ride.

 

[Chris Flanagan]

Chris, I think ultimately baseball at Division I schools will get a full ride.

Hopefully so with the Power 5 Autonomy in the NCAA.